Stability of Microbial Functionality in Anammox Sludge Adaptation to Various Salt Concentrations and Different Salt-Adding Steps

This study evaluated the extent to which the salt-concentration treatments influence the microbial community and functional stability of anammox and coexisting microorganisms in anammox reactors. Two salt-concentration treatments were investigated by adjusting the sodium chloride (NaCl) level either gradually (at 0.5% to 1% increments) or acutely (at a 2.5% increment) from the freshwater to seawater levels in laboratory up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors.Findings from this study improve our understanding of the response of the microbial community and its functional stability to salt perturbations.